Barsano Law, the Washington, D.C. boutique family law firm that opened in April 2025, announced this month that it is expanding its practice to include estate planning, bringing to that work the same philosophy that defines its family law practice: meticulous, individualized legal counsel delivered at rates that keep justice within reach.
The move reflects something founder and principal attorney Josette Barsano has observed consistently across her life and legal practice: almost no one has a plan.
"The whole point of being a lawyer, for me, is to make a real difference in people's lives," Barsano said. "Estate planning is one of the clearest ways to do that. It's something everyone needs and almost no one has gotten around to, including, frankly, most of the attorneys I know."
The Question Nobody Wants to Answer
Estate planning has a reputation for being something you get around to eventually. Barsano thinks that reputation has real consequences.
"What would happen if you became incapacitated tomorrow? Where would your kids go? Who would make medical decisions for you? Who would have access to your accounts to pay your bills while you recover? These are questions that get answered one way or another, either because you planned for them, or because a court does it for you."
A comprehensive estate plan, one that might include a will, a revocable living trust, powers of attorney for finances and healthcare, and advance directives, addresses all of those questions in advance. It keeps families out of court, out of conflict, and out of the painful position of having to figure out how to manage your affairs while grieving.
"It's genuinely one of the most meaningful things someone can do for their family. And the process of doing it, sitting down and thinking through what you want, who you trust, what you've built, is more clarifying than people expect. Clients come away more financially organized and more intentional about their lives than they were before."
A Gap the Legal Market Hasn't Filled
The estate planning market in Washington, D.C. presents a familiar paradox: estate planning services are available, but largely delivered through pricing and process expectations that do not align with the needs or budgets of most residents. On the other end, a proliferation of online document services and templated legal tools has made it easy to generate paperwork, yet paperwork alone is not enough.
"Part of what it means to be a counselor is helping someone think through decisions they haven't thought through before," Barsano said. "A template can't do that. It might cover some of what you need. But it isn't going to ask the right questions, learn your family dynamics, or make sure the plan actually fits your situation. And if you already have documents, the real question is whether they'll work. Were they set up correctly? Do they address everything? Has your life changed since you signed them?"
The consequences of that gap show up most clearly when a family needs the plan to work and it doesn't. Barsano has seen it happen time and time again: wills and trusts that still required probate because they were never properly funded or didn't account for the full picture.
"That's a real failure, and it's avoidable. I've seen enough of it that I can't in good conscience not offer this. Clients deserve to know that what they put in place is actually going to work when their family needs it most."
Counsel for the Right Documents
Barsano Law's estate planning practice is built around a flat-fee model in which clients pay for scope of services, ensuring they receive both individualized counsel and the right documents for their specific circumstances. After a complimentary discovery call, clients schedule a Strategy & Assessment Meeting where Barsano learns their situation in depth and helps her clients to choose the type and level of planning that fits their actual needs and goals.
"Not everyone needs the most complex plan, and not everyone needs the most basic. What everyone needs is someone who takes the time to understand their situation and help them think through it clearly. That's what the flat-fee model makes possible, keeping the focus on the work rather than the clock."
The model is also designed to keep things moving. One of the most common reasons people don't complete their estate plans, Barsano acknowledges, is the same reason they haven't started.
"I understand that. It's the kind of thing that sits on the list because the immediate need isn't visible yet. I've built things into the process specifically to help clients get it done, and to make sure they have someone to call as their lives change."
Estate Planning Through and After Family Transitions
The expansion is a natural complement to Barsano Law's family law practice. For clients navigating divorce, separation, or other major family transitions, estate planning is not a separate conversation. The need for it is immediate.
"If you're going through a divorce or custody change, your existing estate plan, if you have one, almost certainly needs to be updated. Powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, these documents may still name your spouse or reflect outdated living realities. Creating or updating your estate plans during and after a transition is essential."
Barsano Law is now accepting estate planning clients in Washington, D.C. Prospective clients can schedule a complimentary 15-minute discovery call at barsanolaw.com.